A Missouri father of two has been accused of killing his spouse, writing his title in blood on her physique and messaging his sister about how “straightforward” and “satisfying” it was, in line with police.
John Surprise, 31, was charged with first-degree homicide after Kansas Metropolis police stated he allegedly stabbed and strangled his spouse, 29-year-old Ashli Ehrhardt, inside their house on Sept. 22, in line with a possible trigger assertion obtained by HuffPost. The couple had been in the midst of a divorce, and Ehrhardt was set to maneuver out of their shared house inside a matter of days.
“Hey kiddo. Sorry in regards to the mess,” Surprise allegedly messaged his sister, moments after killing his spouse, in line with charging paperwork. “It’s approach simpler and rather more satisfying than you may think about. See you round.”
Police stated they carried out a welfare test on the couple’s house after a supervisor on the firm they labored for seen that neither had are available in.
The supervisor instructed police that the 2 had been going via a divorce however nonetheless lived collectively, in line with the possible trigger assertion.
In response to police, the couple’s employer then known as Ehrhardt’s mom, prompting her and her husband to go to the home to test on the couple, the place they had been met with responding officers, and shortly after Surprise’s mom.
On the scene, Ehrhardt’s mom instructed officers that Surprise had dropped off their two kids, ages 2 and 4, at her house at round 8:20 a.m. however left them on the entrance porch as a substitute of bringing them inside, as he often did, in line with the doc.
Surprise’s mother instructed officers that the couple had been married since October 2019, however the two selected getting a divorce after seeing a wedding counselor final yr, police stated. She helped pay for a divorce lawyer, including that Ehrhardt was planning to maneuver out on Oct 1, in line with the authorities.
Ehrhardt’s dad and mom entered the house via the again and searched the residence whereas police had been outdoors, in line with the doc. Her father found her useless within the downstairs laundry room, and officers reported that she was bare from the waist down, with what seemed to be a belt wrapped round her neck.
Police stated she had a number of puncture wounds bleeding in her left facet, with the title “Surprise” written in blood on her leg and a big butcher knife and meat cleaver near her physique.
Surprise’s sister then arrived to the scene and confirmed police screenshots of a textual content dialog together with her brother, beginning at round 10:40 a.m. by which he despatched the message reportedly telling her how straightforward and satisfying it was to kill his spouse, police stated.
Officers known as one in every of Surprise’s pals, who shared one other disturbing message indicating that Surprise was driving north to Fargo, in line with the doc.
“Nonetheless haven’t cried. Nonetheless really feel nothing. No extra anxiousness, although. That’s a plus,” Surprise allegedly messaged his good friend at 7:39 a.m. that day.
The good friend instructed police he had been at work when the messages had been despatched and didn’t see them till later.
“I’m within the automotive. I’ve little doubt I can be caught at this time. I maintain excited about how she by no means screamed. Simply took it like a champ. What a gal,” Surprise allegedly messaged at 8:50 a.m. “To honor her. I cannot exit by a gunshot (suicide by cop) however by, hopefully the same destiny as Ashli.”
In response to a press launch by the Cherry County District Legal professional’s Workplace, Nebraska state police situated Surprise driving westbound and arrested him on suspicion of first-degree homicide and armed legal motion.
Court docket information present that Surprise doesn’t have an legal professional but and is being held on a $1 million bond.
In a tribute publish on Fb, Ehrhardt’s mom stated her “coronary heart is totally shattered” following her daughter’s loss of life.
“She is the gorgeous younger lady that gave us our beloved grandbabies , who’re protected and in our care… I’m not capable of share the small print previous that presently for a lot of causes,” she wrote.
In response to information by the Nationwide Coalition Towards Home Violence, on common, almost 20 individuals per minute are bodily abused by an intimate accomplice in america, with one in seven girls being injured by an intimate accomplice.
Need assistance? Within the U.S., name 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline.
